I?d like to share another ?word of warning? about placing PayPal donation buttons that was shared with me by a high-profile affiliate marketer friend.

A visitor to his site made a donation thinking that the money would go to a charity, despite the fact that there was no mention of any charitable organization on the site - just a request for ?donations?.

The visitor then requested a receipt for tax purposes.

When a receipt naming a registered charity couldn?t be provided, the guy who made the donation complained to PayPal.

Paypal responded by locking the account, freezing the funds (a sizable amount) and the matter is now going to court.

So, the point would be ? watch how you word those PayPal donation buttons! ?Buy Me a ____? is good, whereas ?Donate ____? could land you in a world of trouble.

I?d like to share another ?word of warning? about placing PayPal donation buttons that was shared with me by a high-profile affiliate marketer friend.

A visitor to his site made a donation thinking that the money would go to a charity, despite the fact that there was no mention of any charitable organization on the site - just a request for ?donations?.

The visitor then requested a receipt for tax purposes.

When a receipt naming a registered charity couldn?t be provided, the guy who made the donation complained to PayPal.

Paypal responded by locking the account, freezing the funds (a sizable amount) and the matter is now going to court.

So, the point would be ? watch how you word those PayPal donation buttons! ?Buy Me a ____? is good, whereas ?Donate ____? could land you in a world of trouble.

Click to expand...

Interesting observation. I'd recommend you better use a button that mentions "Buy me a beer" that can be well differentiated of a charity organization.

Let's see if I've understood this:
If I have a Paypal button that says donations I have to prove that the money is going to a charitable organisation?

I'm a software designer and some of my applications are given away free, but are not freeware. I am planning to use Paypal buttons to ask for donations towards further development of the apllications. So in this case I'd be better to word the text around the button to the extent that the donation is towards further development, correct?

OK, if you use the word "donate". it is implied that you are a 501C(3) non-profit corporation and when you donors find out that you are not, they will have your ass on a plate!

They will charge back, raise Hell and the IRS will hunt you down like a garbage can-breaking-into raccoon!

If you request "donations" you should be 100% legit; I have managed real non-profits off and on for years.

Now......................

................if you are only Cyber Begging (Which can be VERY profitable!), use things like "Buy me a beer!", "Send me money!". "Buy me a cigar!", "I'm broke, so send me money!", "Help Me Out!", "Help Support This Site!", you will be good to go.

Let's see if I've understood this:
If I have a Paypal button that says donations I have to prove that the money is going to a charitable organisation?

I'm a software designer and some of my applications are given away free, but are not freeware. I am planning to use Paypal buttons to ask for donations towards further development of the apllications. So in this case I'd be better to word the text around the button to the extent that the donation is towards further development, correct?

Click to expand...

About the measure of it.
To be precise you don't have to prove anything, just some fucker can come along and shit-stir with Paypal that you are misleading people by requesting donations that are not infact donated to anyone but yourself(?!).

So it would appear that a more descriptive non-ambiguous wording would deal with this.

I suggest:
'Coffee helps coders code longer. If the software helps then help me write more helpful software for you - buy me a strong coffee to keep me coding '

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